Sometimes the best way to learn is from your mistakes. In gardening, mistakes can mean destroyed, dead or dying plants, which can be disheartening, but it’s all part of the journey to becoming a smarter, more successful and more productive gardener.

In the Reddit thread ar/NativePlantGardening, a thoughtful gardener decided to share a mistake he recently made so that other gardeners can learn what not to do and thus avoid any consequences in their own garden.

After the gardener bought a new serviceberry tree and planted it in his garden, he noticed that its condition was getting worse over time. Its leaves began to wilt and turn yellow, and the tree stopped growing.

That’s when they realized they had inadvertently buried the root collar (the place where the tree trunk meets the roots and “flares” outward), which can cause a host of problems in young trees, including trunk rot and root ringing.

After realizing their mistake, they quickly dug up the tree and replanted it properly.

“Hope it recovers now,” the gardener wrote in the post.

While mistakes in the garden are unavoidable, there are certain gardening and landscaping practices that can mitigate the consequences or facilitate recovery. For example, this gardener’s decision to plant a serviceberry (a shrub native to much of the eastern United States) increases the plant’s likelihood of recovery because it is in its natural environment—a place where it will not only grow but thrive.

This is a great example of native gardening: an effortless, inexpensive method that involves creating a beautiful yard and garden using the native plant species of your area.

Native plants have evolved to benefit from local moisture and resist weeds, saving you time and money that you would otherwise spend watering or weeding your garden. Plus, local pollinators love native plants because they provide them with shelter and food, so planting native plants in your garden will make it a pollinator paradise.

Other eco-friendly and low-maintenance options include clover lawns, buffalo grass and xeriscaping. For more information on eco-friendly gardening methods, check out The Cool Down’s guides on how to convert to natural grass and renaturalize your yard.

In response to the gardener’s mistake, users thanked him for his advice and efforts to save the plant.

“Thank you,” wrote one person. “I hope things are easier for the little guy now.”

Another said: “I bet the little serviceberry was so happy when it was uncovered! Great job OP!”

“This is the perfect post to find before planting my spice bush,” wrote one gardener who was able to avoid a similar mistake.

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